Club football returns this weekend after a lengthy international break which, seemingly, a lot of City fans found harder to cope with than I did.
That said, the three week programme of international fixtures for Wales was hardly enjoyable for me because it wasn’t only the senior team that had a mediocre time of it when you look at the various age group levels going down to the under 17s.
I make it that Wales played a total of fourteen matches at senior and under 21, 19, 18 and 17 levels over the past three weeks and lost them all apart from two wins and a draw.
Furthermore, the various Welsh teams only managed to find the net in four of those fourteen matches – indeed, it could be argued that the senior side with their one win and three defeats were what passes for success when compared to their younger counterparts.
Frankly, the Welsh performance at under 21 level in their Euros qualification group was an embarrassment, as was the performance of the under 19s in hosting their Euro Finals during the summer. Questions need to be asked of those in charge of these miserable campaigns with the same applying to those at the top charged with guiding the development of Welsh football.
As for City, they head to Blackburn with those pundits who predict Championship results for the coming weekend almost entirely opting for a home win. With Krystian Bielik suspended, Rubin Colwill still out and Yousef Salech and Alex Robertson injury doubts, they might be right as well.
On to the usual quiz then with the answers to be posted on here on Sunday.
60s. Born in a place that was transformed by the arrival of steelworks that led to it being called the biggest village in the country, this forward made a telling impact during the first half of a unique journey undertaken by a team from the same county as his birthplace. He had a healthy scoring rate when he signed for Blackburn with his club halfway through their return journey and this was initially maintained at Ewood Park during his eight year stay there, but fell away somewhat as he became a utility player capable of turning out in midfield and at the back. His final move in the professional game was back to his first club where he was a regular during his two years with them before dropping into non league football where he had a spell as player/manager for the team representing the village/town of his birth. Can you name him?
70s. This Yorkshireman was offered a way out of the pits when he accepted a deal with a club that was probably as successful as they’ve ever been at the time he arrived. He made it into the first team, but not too often for a side that was in decline by then and he needed a move north to a notoriously cold and windy ground to see his career improve to the stage where he became something of a second tier specialist as he spent a decade representing four teams, including Blackburn, who were usually in a relegation scrap at the time. Wikipedia lists him as defender, but I remember him more a number six type who scored at least once at Ninian Park. His managerial career began with a bang with a promotion in the north east and ended with a whimper of relegation in London, but who is he?
80s. This forward once appeared twice in the same Top of the Pops episode, headed a bid to purchase a club in his home country which went very well initially, but, arguably, was instrumental in its eventual demise, played in a European Cup Final and two World Cup final tournaments as well as scoring six times for Blackburn during this decade, name him.
90s. Enlarging mole?
00s. Little did you know the scrape in the north would lead to an England international! `(7,7)
10s. Mr Schmoe ordered to attack everyone?
20s. Sportsman who once had a “naughty” gesture named after him meets the man who said “by George, she’s got it!”.
s
